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BVRLA names Oliphant as new chairman

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Author: | Updated: 20 May 2015 17:47

Simon Oliphant has been appointed as the new chairman for the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), effective immediately.

The Managing Director of Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions (HCVS) takes over from Marshall Leasing’s Peter Cakebread, who has stepped down after completing his two-year term.

Oliphant has been part of HCVS for 25 years and has been involved with the BVRLA since joining the Leasing and Fleet Management Committee in 2001.

He became Chairman of the same committee after a decade, and joined the BVRLA’s Committee of Management in 2011.

BVRLA CEO Gerry Keaney with newly appointed BVRLA Chairman Simon Oliphant

Simon said his first priority will be to continue the work overseen by Peter and the BVRLA’s other committee members but wants to see the group play a larger role in training and development.

He also hopes to work with the newly-formed government on taxation, safety, the environment and technology.

“I am delighted with my new position at the BVRLA, which gives me the opportunity to put something back into the industry I have been associated with for more than 30 years,” commented Simon.

“My career at Hitachi has given me the opportunity to work with small, medium and large companies in different roles. This makes me ideally placed to work with all BVRLA members and fully represent its diverse membership, which continues to grow across each sector.”

Simon’s new role officially came into effect following today’s BVRLA’s AGM.

His new responsibilities will include leading the BVRLA Committee of Management, which gained two members gain additional responsibilities today - David Hosking, Chief Executive at Tuskerdirect, who is now Chairman of the BVRLA’s Leasing and Fleet Management Committee, and Brian Swallow, Vice President of Rental at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, now Chairman of the Rental Committee.

They replace Europcar’s Robert Shaw, and Keith Allen of ARI fleet UK. Both will remain a part of their respective committees as vice chair.

Elsewhere in the BVRLA, Mike Potter of Fleet Drive has replaced PHVC’s Paul Huxford as chairman of the association’s Leasing Broker Committee.

BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney said: “It is great to welcome these new faces to the association, because we certainly have some challenges for them to focus on.

“We are also grateful to outgoing committee members whose efforts have helped steer the BVRLA in recent years.”

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